Djokovic's last dance, the boy who trained under the bombs

BarcelonaAt 38, Novak Djokovic is ready to bid farewell to Wimbledon. The Serbian hasn't confirmed whether this is his final season, but it appears so. When he lost at Roland Garros in the semifinals, he kissed the ground in farewell. Although he continues to compete at a high level, he sees the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner leaving him in the background. He's the last survivor of a golden era of tennis and has to make way for the younger players.

A seven-time grass-court Grand Slam champion, Djokovic has always loved this tournament. Although his most successful season is in Australia, he has left evidence of his quality on the grass of the All England Club. He knows it will be difficult, but he dreams of leaving with one last success, which would allow him to equal the record of eight titles held by the greatest on grass, Roger Federer. The Serbian, who will be making his 20th consecutive appearance at Wimbledon (the tournament was not held in 2020), completed a training session on Monday, but in an exhibition on Friday at Hurlingham, he lost to Karen Kachanov. His condition remains a mystery.

A finalist the last two years, only beaten by Carlos Alcaraz on both occasions, the 38-year-old will try to go one step further and equal Roger Federer's record. Djokovic could also join Federer in another historic feat. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is aiming to become only the second man to win 100 matches at two different Grand Slams. Having recorded his 100th match win at Roland Garros earlier this month, Djokovic is now looking to improve on his outstanding 97-12 record at Wimbledon. Federer achieved 105 wins at Wimbledon and 102 at the Australian Open.

Djokovic, who claimed his 1,000th professional tour-level title in May at the Geneva ATP 250, first lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2011 and last won in 2022. He even had a run of three wins between 2018 and the 2023 final, during which Alcaraz won an instant five-set classic to end Djokovic's reign. Fans are dreaming of this being the final, as World No. 2 and reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz saw the draw favor him: he will avoid Novak Djokovic until the final of the London tournament. The Serbian, on the other hand, could face Sinner in the semifinals. Djokovic knows that the future belongs to the protagonists of the beautiful Ronald Garros final, decided in five sets. Djokovic said the final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros was one of the "most historic" matches he's ever seen.

"What they did in the final was incredible. I was at home, my wife wanted to watch the match but I didn't. During the first half of the match we went out to eat, but afterward we came back and watched it. And it was an incredible match. I give them both huge credit. It's one of the matches. Djokovic, that kid who played tennis in an empty swimming pool, hitting the ball against the walls where his parents left him for protection during the NATO bombing of Belgrade, knows he'll be cheered at Wimbledon before every match. He's still the player with the most Grand Slams in history. The last musketeer left from the group of players who revolutionized tennis at the beginning of the 20th century. The kid who was afraid of bombs and who ended up meeting the king and queen of England.